Push-push latch



A. D. MEYER PUSH-PUSH LATCH Aug. 28, 1951 2 Shee'VS-ShGGt 1 Filed 001;.22, 1948 A. D. MEYER PUSH-PUSH LATCH Aug. 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. (26/192 2. 777qy'? BY Filed Oct. 22, 1948 Patented Aug. 28,1951 2,565,873" SH-Push pA'ron Alvin D. Meyer, Kenmore, N.- Y.,l,assignor, by v mesne assignments,

Massachusetts to Sylvahia -El ec tric Products Inc., New York, N. acorporation. of

Application October 22, 1948, Serial No. 55,950.

Claims (01. vie-5 03) f This invention relates to a so-called pushpushlatch mechanism. Thismay be described as a mechanical arrangementwherein one of the,

elements can be moved .for a given distance, by

actuating an operating lever or push button, and 5 the return stroke ofthe mechanism is limited when the operator releases the operating lever.The return stroke is accomplished by moving the operating lever or pushbutton a second time, whereupon, upon release of the operating lever orpush button, the mechanism returns to initial position and is ready fora new cycle of operations. a

Mechanism of this type has many applications. One specifically describedherein, is to control the push buttons of a radio receiver. Another isin trunk covers, doorlatches, and the like, wherein star wheel mechanismis employed. M

It is an object of this invention to provide mechanism of the classdescribed which is simple and reliable in its action, simple toconstruct and install, which requires a minimum of service, 'andwhichmay Joe-assembled from punch press parts, requiringno excessivetolerances.

Still other objects and advantages of my inventionwill be apparent fromthe specification. The features of novelty which I believe to becharacteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in theappended claims.

My invention itself, however, both as to its fundamental principles andas to its particular embodiments, will-best be understood by ref erenceto the specification and accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is afront elevation of mechanism in accordance with my invention, withvarious cover plates and other parts removed to show the construction ofthe elements,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, with some ofthe removed parts back in position, and Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 arefragmentary front elevations of the latch portion of the mechanism insuccessive positions in its operating cycle.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, l0 designates the frame plateof the mechanism, in the embodiment of the invention about to bedescribed, and which is for certain purposes and under certainconditions the preferred embodiment of the invention. The frame It hastop ears II and bottom ears [2, provided with slots, in which aremounted for vertical movement sliders l5, operated by the operatinglevers or push buttons, and which in turn, in the embodiment of theinvention described, operate tone control switches l3 and I4.

.The normal position of the, sliders I5 is atfthpv lower end ofrtheirtravel, to which position they arebiased by springs M5,; the lower endsof whichv are securedto'the gsliders; and-the upper ends abut againstearsLlZ ,Thesliders l5 carry a latchingprojection l 5a, ,and asecondprojection in,

(Fig. 2), to the latter of which is secured a leaf spring ll, the free,end .of which passes between the bifurcations of; a bifurcated ear 22formed on rotary latch member 20, mounted on shaft2 l.

Near the lower end of latch 2|] there is formed a forwardly extendingear 23, and at the lower end of latch there is provided a forwardlyturned edge 24 and upwardly extendingflanges z i andv 4 Near the n m ser he c se lat ra ex nd ng-f n er 5c n below i 1 end of-key, isdepressed;

\ a a 1 ea -zl :w il

asecond, ger zfirexi id nsth pp e ec-v ion. nich b ,7 tom ,finge 25servesas a stop to limit thedownwa mmo em g rli lid fb l t k a oma s sdk y h operat n e rpr pu h. butt wh h enga e he slider, in this case,-key, 0 mou'nted on shaft 3],

and having: a U projecting por tion 30a. which fits under finger 15a andlifts slider [5 when the outer 30 is of the so-called In this particularcase key p ano-key type, but-it will be understood that other types ofkey maybe employed.

. The operation of the mechanism will now :be described -.-Whe ey. I prsssdislie 55 lifted- 5? the action ofprojection 30a and finger 150."This lifts the bottom end of leaf spring l1 and applies pressuretending to rotate latch 29 counter-clockwise from the normal position ofFig. 1.

As latch 20 rotates counter-clockwise, and slider l5 rises, projection15a on slider l5 moves in front of ear 23 on latch 20, and stops therotation of latch 20 in the position of Fig. 3. Continued pressure onkey 30 will produce no further movement, because the mechanism is nowlocked against further movement as long as pressure is applied. Theslider I5 has reached the top limit of its travel, (upward movement islimited by step |5S on slider l5 engaging the underside of ear I2), andwith the slider in that position, the latch 20 has reached the end ofits counter-clockwise rotation. The operator now releases key 30.

When this occurs, vertical pressure on slider I5 is released, and spring16 movesslider l5 downwardly. As the slider moves downwardly, projectionl5a on slider 15 passes out of the path of ear 23 on latch 20, andspring I1 rotates latch 20 further counter-clockwise, to the position ofFig. 4, where the rotation of latch 20 is stopped,

this time by the engagement of projection l5a and flange 24a at thelower left hand of the latch 20. This is the latched position of sliderI 5, in which it will remain until the key 30 is again depressed.

As the key F30 is."'depressed the :second time, slider I5 is raised fromthe position of Fig. 4, clearing flange 23, and permitting latch 20 torotate further counter-clockwise to the position of Fig. 5. At thispoint, if pressure on key -3,0;is released, the latch 20 is out ofposition to stop the return of slider J5 to the position of Fig. 1, andslider l5 moves downwardly tothat position.

As it does so, pressure in leaf spring H-is built up tending to rotatelatch 20 clockwise, and as soon as projection l5a has moveddownwardly-out of the path of flange 23, spring I! restoreslatch 1 tostarting position, as indicated in Fig.6.

In the specification, I have explained the principles of my inventionand the best mode -in which I have contemplated applying thoseprinciples, so as to distinguish my invention from other inventions; andI haveparticularly pointed out and distinctly claimed the part,improvement or combination which I claim as -my invention or discovery.

- While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood thatmodifications and changes may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as'will be;clear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In mechanism of the class described, in

combination, a manual key, a slider mounted for longitudinal movementand-actuated by said key, an oscillatory latch mounted for swingingmovement into and out of the path of said slider, and

a spring connection between said slider and-said able into and out ofthe path of said slider, and said latch having a radially extending armand a plurality of ears disposed substantially on a diameter of saidlatch and on the same side of the pivot point thereof projecting atright angles to theplane of-said'arm" and extending toward saidslider'.r

3. The combination claimed in claim 2 in -which said ears are radiallyspaced from each other.

4. The combination claimed in claim 2 in which said .1atch.:has aradially extending arm and a plurality of ears extending at right angles'to the plane of said arm and projecting toward said slider, sai'd earsbeing radially spaced from each ether, and said slider having aprojection contacting one or the other of said ears depending ontheposition of said slider.

5. In mechanism of the class described, in combinatiorna .frame, aslider mounted in'said frame for translational movement, an oscillatorylatch .mounted for swinging movement into and out of the path of saids1ider,;said slider having a portion movable into and out of the path ofsaid latch, and said latch having a portion movable into and out of thepath of said slider,.ancl said latch having a radially extending arm anda plurality of cars extending toward said slider,

' said ears being radially spaced from each other,

and a spring connection between said slider and said latch, said springconnection biasing said latch for rotation in opposite directionsdepending on the position of saidslider.

ALVIN D. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references'are-of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 625,639 Burchell May 23, 1899632,043 Chandler Aug. 29, 1899 1,748,881 Inaba -Feb. 25, 1930 1,906,571Gillmore May 2, 1933 2,053,886 Williams Sept. 8, 1936 2,420,166 CoreyMay 6, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 348,788 Germany Feb. 18,1922

